Skylar Dahl’s eyes were filled with tears as she went to her coach’s office to hand in her jersey and deliver the dream-crushing news: She was no longer physically able to play the sport she loved.
For years, Dahl fought to keep alive her childhood goal of earning a college basketball scholarship. Born with bilateral clubfeet, she underwent a series of surgeries to fix the congenital condition. But the pain grew too intense and, at the age of 14, reality dashed her ambitions.
She was a high school freshman then, limping around on a broken foot and devastated by an apparent bleak future for her athletic career.
Dahl is a fourth-year University of Virginia student-athlete now, days away from competing in her first Paralympics as a rower for Team USA in Paris.
“It was such a big setback,” Dahl said, “but looking back, it was just another thing to overcome and steer me in this new direction to a sport that isn’t hard on my feet at all – and I can do forever.”
As disappointed as Dahl was after giving up basketball, she became reinvigorated when introduced to rowing a few months later. At the suggestion of her neighbor in Minneapolis, Dahl’s ninth-grade spring break trip was to South Carolina to visit a high school rowing coach. She was intrigued and was soon back home deciding which of two local rowing clubs to join.
She chose Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, because its training room wall was lined with banners representing where its alumni had gone on to row in college.
On that wall, Dahl saw the chance to gain an athletic scholarship after all.
“That was my motivation,” said Dahl, whose father, Andy, played basketball at Southern Utah University and Augustana University in South Dakota. “I wanted to look at it every day.”
As she progressed on the water, Dahl began to focus on the next step. She took another rowing-themed spring break trip her junior year of high school, this time for unofficial recruiting visits to schools in the Southeast, including UVA.
She and her family arrived on Grounds in March 2020, just as Cavaliers rowing head coach Kevin Sauer broke the news that season was canceled because of the growing threat of COVID-19.
What Dahl witnessed in that difficult moment was what convinced her to eventually accept UVA’s scholarship offer.
“Seeing how much it meant to the athletes,” Dahl recalled, “that this was going to be such a devastating loss and they’ll have to leave their friends, I was like, ‘OK, there’s something special here’ because people aren’t going to act like that if it’s not something special.”
Dahl has since thrived as a Wahoo. As a sophomore in 2023 – a season that opened Sauer’s eyes to her toughness as a rower – Dahl helped UVA’s second varsity eight win an Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
“She makes up for not being as tall as most on our team just with grit and determination,” Sauer, who retired in May after three decades with the Cavaliers, said of the 5-foot-10 Dahl. “That year, she just really came across as somebody who could push herself really, really hard.”
Dahl’s congenital deformity results in both feet being out of their standard position, affecting tendons, muscles, bones and blood vessels, but it has not stopped her from competing with the rest of the UVA team. Recognizing both her condition and her talent, Sauer inquired whether Dahl qualified for the Paralympics.
She did, leading Dahl to become part of a U.S. gold medal-winning crew at the 2023 Para Rowing Regatta in Paris. She also earned a silver medal at the 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
Dahl officially made the U.S. 2024 Paralympic team in January.
“She’s really tough and she can push herself,” Sauer said, “but she’s also just one of those great teammates who people want to be around. My guess is she’ll probably be elected captain her senior year. She just inspires people like that.”
Once reserved about her condition, Dahl is now open about her story on social media and other outlets. Her website, created under the tutelage of Darden School of Business marketing guru Kim Whitler, includes the following on its landing page: “I am … not a casualty. I am not a product of what has happened to me, but rather what I have made happen.”
Dahl’s Instagram account, which chronicles her journey to Paris, is already a source of motivation. She said parents of a young child born with clubfoot recently reached out to her.
“They’re trying to create a world where their kid is coming up and feels accepted and can do whatever they want to do,” Dahl said. “And they’re following my story as an example. And I’m like, ‘That’s exactly who I’m doing this for!’”
Dahl was rocked when she realized basketball was no longer in her future. But along came a new sport, a new platform and a new outlook on life.
“Some people may call this a disability or a limitation,” Dahl said, “but I never use either of those words. I would still call it just a challenge that I continue to overcome. I’m now in my ‘embracing of it’ era.”
Team USA Takes on the Paralympic Stage
The 2024 Paralympics are in full swing in Paris, and UVA Rowing is still well represented. Sky Dahl, a fourth-year rower at UVA, is competing in the PR3 Mixed Four with a coxswain race, where she and Team USA are looking to make a splash in the Paralympic arena.
While Australia jumped out to an early lead, Team USA maintained a steady pace, allowing them to take control of the race at the halfway point. The team finished with a commanding victory, securing their spot in the Paralympic final, scheduled for September 1st.
Dahl and her teammates displayed their skill and tenacity in the heat, proving themselves a force to be reckoned with as they prepare for the final challenge. The team’s performance has demonstrated their determination and resilience, as they are prepared to give it their all to bring home the gold.
The Race for Gold
In their heat, Dahl and her team successfully qualified for the final, alongside France, Germany, and the reigning champions, Great Britain. The team's performance in the heat was impressive, as they dominated the competition and secured their place in the final. The final is set to take place on September 1st at 06:30 AM local time.
Dahl and her teammates will face stiff competition in the final, but they are ready to go the distance and battle for the gold. Their commitment to rowing, along with their shared passion for the sport, has allowed them to rise to the challenge and strive for greatness. The Paralympic final is an opportunity for the team to showcase their talent and determination to the world as they aim to bring home a gold medal. The race is bound to be fierce, and the team is prepared to give it their all in the final push to reach the top.
Embracing the Challenge
Dahl’s journey from facing a setback in her basketball career to becoming a Paralympic contender is a testament to her resilience and determination. Her story demonstrates that even when faced with adversity, one can find a new path to success, embracing challenges and achieving incredible feats.
Dahl’s story is an inspiration to athletes and non-athletes alike. Her journey emphasizes the importance of perseverance, resilience, and embracing new challenges. Her remarkable transformation from a heartbroken basketball player to a Paralympic rower is a powerful message about the power of determination and finding new paths to achieve your dreams. Dahl’s participation in the Paralympics is a testament to her courage, dedication, and ability to overcome obstacles. Her story is a reminder that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
